FAQ’s

I’m too young to donate, or I’m a starving college student. Are there other ways to get involved?

Yes, absolutely! Please check out our Take Action page to find out other ways to have an impact. Remember, simply sharing The Supply’s vision and sparking dialogue is one way to increase global awareness of the slum issue.

Where do I find out more information on the slum issue?

We’re glad you’re interested in the data, so are we. The slum issue is complex, and we don’t claim to know everything. But, we are always striving to understand the global slum issue while also conducting our own research to understand each unique community we work in. Check out The Slum Issue or Facts and Figures to gain insight on the global slum crisis. Or, check back often on Our Work to see research and impact metrics conducted in the communities we work.

I’m looking for more in-depth data on slums, education, development, etc. Do you have any?

We keep a database of articles, research, reports, etc. that are relevant to our work. To access it, click here. You’ll need to login with the following information:
username: thesupplyguest
password: thesupplyguest2013

I still don’t understand the difference between community, government, and private schools.

Government schools may be free, but slums aren’t recognized by the government. So there aren’t too many public schools within walking distance of slums. Plus, many slum parents are critical of the poor quality of these government schools.
Private schools are for the wealthy, too expensive and inaccessible for slum families. Community schools fill the gap between public and private schools. These schools are typically started by local community leaders who see a need to provide low-cost, quality education in areas such as slums. Community schools are often the school of choice for slum families.

Is The Supply Education Group a 501(c)(3)?

Yes, we are a registered 501(c)(3) in the United States. All contributions are tax-deductible!

Where are you based?

The Supply headquarters is based in a cozy studio in the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens, NYC. Come visit if you’re in the area! 45-50 30th St., Long Island City, NY 11101

Why not focus on institution building of the public school system instead of investing in community schools?

Ah, we’re glad you asked. We think capacity building and institution building is critical to development, but we think it’s most effective when locals shape these institutions. In the slum context, the interaction between the societal level and institutional level is not as clear as it may be in other contexts. Our vision with the SLUMS curriculum is that there will be an increase in civic engagement throughout slums, allowing slum dwellers to have a voice in shaping the institutions that affect their community.

Is The Supply just an African focused organization?

No! The urban slum crisis is a global issue affecting continents beyond Africa. The Supply’s approach to this crisis is community focused and can be designed to have impact in slums across the world. But right now we are focusing on getting it right where we started before we jump ahead of ourselves into new territory.

How much of your spending goes to fieldwork versus overhead expenses?

All online donations go directly to our field programs, and we are committed to using your investment wisely. We strive for effective field spending while also investing in the organizational capacity to make our work have impact. Check out our Financials page for the most recent breakdown of our spending.

I’ve heard horror stories of nonprofits involved with international development. What’s your philosophy on development?

That’s a loaded question. We don’t necessarily adhere to a singular theory. We do believe in a bottom-up approach to development. Slum dwellers are the development experts when it comes to their individual communities; and when they supply the solution, we think it has the highest chance of being implemented and sustained. The Supply’s approach is focused on providing the platform for local slum students to engage in their community. It is our vision that through education, slum dwellers will be called to action — that they will supply the development solutions.
Of course, we are constantly educating ourselves on development theories. So send us your thoughts and criticisms!

I still don’t understand the SLUMS curriculum.

It might help to think of your own experiences doing community service or service learning. SLUMS is similar. It pairs this community exploration with peer-led dialogue and reflection so that students can brainstorm and implement projects in their community.

Visualizing it as this ongoing cycle may also be helpful:
ASK questions about community issues,
INVESTIGATE the community,
REFLECT/DISCUSS the experience and findings,
CREATE solutions,
REFLECT/DISCUSS the results and begin asking new questions.

So, what’s with your logo?

At The Supply, we believe that supply does not meet demand, but supply meets supply. What does this mean? We supply the tools for the urban slum youth who will in return supply their communities. So, if you’ve ever taken an intro economics course or know anything about supply-demand curves, you’ll notice that our logo has two supply curves! Brilliant!